Best Italian Beef in Chicago

[ronnie_suburban]

George, I have to say that the sausage on that combo above was nearly perfect. The exterior was charred nicely and had a firm bite to it. Inside, it was moist, juicy and just loaded with tremendous flavor -- and not too much fennel -- just the right amount for my taste.

tommy, I agree with Eliot about it being ideal to try a beef and a combo at each place but if you're going to taste multiple places in one day, combos might be pushing it . . . or plan on not finishing all the sandwiches you purchase. Still, a sausage comparison between places would definitely be at least as interesting as a beef comparison, IMO.

As for a any sort of beef research outing, there are some very dedicated folks in town who've done a better job with it than I could ever do. But still, I think this is something I will try to organize for us for later this spring because it would be interesting and fun. Please, keep an eye here on the forum for details.

=R=

[mark922]

i'm glad to see some movement on this thread, 'cause i'm really into the beef.

one question for everyone:  should i go just "beef", or should i go "combo".  my first (and only) chicago beef experience is somewhat mentioned here.  and if IRC, it was "wet, hot" and a combo, with the combo bit meaning beef AND sausage if i recall and understand correctly.  should i go, for my next trip, for just beef (no sausage)?  i guess the correct answer is that i should do everything on the menu if i have a few folks with me, but i'm wondering what the truest expression of the chicago beef sandwich might be.  thoughts?

ain't no place better than chicago, BTW.

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I rarely order a combo, because I find that I get shorted on the beef and I am also something of a purist. I have been known to order both and eat only half (give or take) of each.

[gmi3804]

[showing snobby side] I always thought combos were for the same type of person who would order Veal Parmigiana. [/showing snobby side]

[ianeccleston]

Has anyone else tried the 'new' Italian Beef at Brown's Chicken & Pasta? It isn't bad, especially considering that it's from a chain. It's certainly better than the standard beef you get at most hot dog stands. It doesn't hold a candle to Al's or Johnnie's, but it does the trick.

BTW - good news for north-siders: there's a location of Al's opening up in Evanston.

Ian

[maggiethecat]

[showing snobby side] I always thought combos were for the same type of person who would order Veal Parmigiana.    [/showing snobby side]

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George, I don't know why that made me ROTFLFAO, but it did. I rarely order a combo but I think it's a legit sandwich. But then again, I haven't had Veal Parm in twenty years and it sounds good tonight.

In from the Italian I live with, a (former) chronic combo guy: You're absolutely right. Too many meat flavors are confusing---it's neither sausage nor beef. It's carnivore gluttony.

[ronnie_suburban]

[showing snobby side] I always thought combos were for the same type of person who would order Veal Parmigiana.     [/showing snobby side]

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George, I don't know why that made me ROTFLFAO, but it did. I rarely order a combo but I think it's a legit sandwich. But then again, I haven't had Veal Parm in twenty years and it sounds good tonight.

In from the Italian I live with, a (former) chronic combo guy: You're absolutely right. Too many meat flavors are confusing---it's neither sausage nor beef. It's carnivore gluttony.

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LOL! Repeat after me . . . there is nothing wrong with carnivore gluttony. Absolutely nothing!

I used to be a 'beef only' fan but for whatever reason, that changed a few years back and I've had neither the good sense nor the restraint to fight it.

=R=

[gmi3804]

Repeat after me . . . there is nothing wrong with carnivore gluttony.  Absolutely nothing!

=R=

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There is nothing wrong with carnivore gluttony. Absolutely nothing!

[molto e]

In Chicago, every one has their favorite Italian Beef stand. These bastions of "haute-cusine" are held near and dear to the heart. If someone were to suggest that your spot is not at the top of the heap that can start a fierce debate. I grew up in downtown Chicago and I vividly remember the first time I went to Mr. Beef on Orleans. Mr. Beef was all that I ever wanted in a beef. I know that Jay Leno feels the same way as one time on the Tonight Show through out the interview he kept stuffing Mr. Beef's in his mouth. I have tried many of the beef stands in town; Al's, Carm's, Portillo's, Buona, etc. I always came back to Mr. Beef as my favorite. A couple of friends of mine grew up in Elmwood Park and they swore by Johnnie's (and Alpine for Italian cold cuts, but that is for another thread-I like Alpine but LOVE L'Appetito). I finally made the journey to Johnnie's on North Ave in Elmwood Park and I was shocked at my findings. I LOVED JOHNNIE'S; the jus had a little more tang and the sweet peppers were julienned. I had a new favorite, but that did not keep me from eating at Mr. Beef.

After reading a post by Ronnie S, I was shocked to read him rhapsodise about Al's on Taylor. I have respect for Ronnie's opinion so I was determined to see for myself. Where would I go to compare the BEEF; Mr. Beef (for sure), Al's on Taylor (let me see what Ronnie S. speaks of, I had dismissed Al's years ago), Johnnie's (for the last 5 years my favorite except I had a bad beef there last July), other possibilities Chicky's.... I settled on three; Mr. Beef, Al's, Johnnie's and I had considered going to Top-Notch for a burger and Gene and Jude's for a dog. At this point, I PM'd Ronnie S because I had no idea where Top Notch and Gene and Jude's were so I asked him for details. Ronnie told me if I could wait an hour that he would meet me at Mr.Beef and he would drive.

The team of gastronauts was Ronnie, the fair Amy and I.

How would we pace ourselves to make it to all the stops with out filling up. We decided to eat a half of a Italian Beef a piece. Ronnie and I like to order our beef juicy with sweet and a little hot. Amy likes beef with hot. Now the most important question...fries or not-come on, is there even a question. To this question, Ronnie said that Al's would have the best fries for sure.

Mr. Beef

666 N. Orleans St.

312-337-8500

Juicy Beef with sweet and a little hot

Side view

Beef with hot

Fries

Two beefs= 4 halfs and 3 people??? Ok, I will take one for the team and eat the extra half.

We all enjoyed the beef's. Ronnie S may have a comment on the fries.

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Al's No. 1 Italian Beef

1079 W. Taylor St.

312-226-4017

Juicy Beef with sweet and a little hot (notice the orange color of the Jus)

Beef with hot

Fries

The group's opinion diverged at this point. Amy and I felt that the beef's were overtly red peppered. I will leave Ronnie to make his own assessent.

One thing that we agreed upon was that the fries were great!!!

2 beefs=4 halfs and three people, Ronnie S comes through to eat the other half.

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Johnnie's Beef

7500 W. North Ave.

Elmwood Park 60707-4140

708-452-6000

The amazing things about Johnnie's is rain, shine, sleet or snow, the line is coming out the door. Besides the beef and combos, Johnnie's has great lemon ice and tamales.

Tamale

Juicy beef with sweet and a little hot

We all felt that the beefs were a little flat. My last two beefs at Johnnie's have been off- Jus either too spicy or too dull.

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Conclusion- Amy and I said that Mr. Beef reigned supreme and I will leave Ronnie to state his position.

Good Beefing,

Molto E

[ronnie_suburban]

Dayum, Eliot! I'm getting that sick/full feeling all over again just looking at the pictures.

A few comments . . .

I have, over the past few years, gone back and forth between Al's and Mr. Beef as my favorite. On this day, Al's reigned supreme for me. I liked the sandwich at Mr. Beef quite a bit but their jus just didn't quite 'do it' for me. It was very 'one note' and tasted more like broth or bouillon than anything else.

Al's, otoh, was much spicier than I remember it usually being. I'm going to chalk that up to an over-application of the "light hot" peppers we requested. But still, there was a depth and complexity of flavor there that was absent in the other 2 sandwiches. I also thought their beef was a bit more tender but that can go either way on any given day.

I appreciate the way in which Al's slices their gardeniera into thin, uniform strips. That's how Johnnie's slices their sweet peppers and I think that's a good thing because the flavor gets distributed more evenly throughout the sandwich and the sandwich is also easier to eat that way. I also like the more traditional "Chicago-style" gardeniera served at Mr. Beef and Johnnie's but not as much as the uniquely treated version served at Al's.

As for Johnny's, I know this is the wrong thread, but I think they may have the best Italian sausage of the 3 joints we hit that day. Their beef is very good but unless you're already in the area, I don't really think it's worth the trip to Elmwood Park. I know that Eliot felt that Johnnie's was a bit "off their game" that day. I can't really say because I've only been there twice in the last 5 years and both those times were in 2006. That said, it's a very tasty sandwich which is unquestionably representative of the genre. I just don't view the place as a "must-hit" destination.

As for fries, it wasn't even close. The fries served at Al's were superior in every way to the other 2 places. I'm a big fan of hand-cut fries and the ones served at Al's were exemplary. They were everything a french fry should be -- hot, salty, crispy and tasty. At both Mr. Beef and Johnnie's the pre-cut, foodservice fries are nothing more than an afterthought.

That was a fun time and a much better lunch than what I had planned that day. For all our "work," I still think the issue remains unsettled and further research -- perhaps with a larger group and more stops -- should definitely follow.

=R=

[gmi3804]

I almost never get a beef at Johnnie's - I always go with the Sausage. I just can't get enough of the perfect cooked-over-real-charcoal smokiness. I can take or leave their french fries - they're rather thin and fast-cooling and taste of grease. And I do love their Italian lemonade on a hot summer day.